Tube for assisting breathing

Abstract

A breathing-assistance tube whose distal end is designed to be inserted into the trachea of a patient and is provided with an inflatable balloon for providing sealing between said breathing-assistance tube and said trachea, has a proximal end for connection to means for conveying breathing gas into the lungs of the patient via said tube. According to the invention, said breathing-assistance tube includes at least one communication duct passing through the wall of said tube and establishing communication between the lumen of said tube and the inside of said balloon.

I claim: 
     
       1. A breathing assistance tube (2), having a lumen, having a wall having thickness, having a distal end (3) having a face, said distal end being designed to be inserted into a trachea (4) of a patient and which is provided with an inflatable balloon (5) having an inside, an outside and a cavity, said inflatable balloon being for providing sealing between said breathing-assistance tube and a trachea, and having a proximal end which is designed to be connected to means (7, 8) for conveying breathing gas to lungs of a patient via said tube, said breathing-assistance tube comprising: (a) at least one communication duct (10) passing through the wall of said tube (2) and establishing communication (10) between the lumen (9) of said tube and the inside of said balloon (5);   (b) at least one first longitudinal duct (17) opening out into said balloon, said duct being designed to connect said cavity (6) to the exterior of a patient, wherein said inflatable balloon (5) is subdivided into a first and a second cavity (6a and 6b), said communication duct (10) and said first longitudinal duct (17) opening out into said first cavity (6a) and a second longitudinal duct (22) opening out into said second cavity (6b), the second longitudinal duct being suitable for connection to a source of gas.   
     
     
       2. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal duct (17) is provided in the thickness of the wall of said tube (2). 
     
     
       3. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal duct (17) is connected to a pressure sensor (15) suitable for monitoring the operation of said means (7, 8) delivering the breathing gas to the lungs of a patient. 
     
     
       4. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal duct (17) opens out (at point 17a) into the cavity (6a) of said balloon (5) in the vicinity of the proximal end (5b) of said balloon. 
     
     
       5. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said communication duct (10) is located in the vicinity of the distal end (5a) of the balloon (5). 
     
     
       6. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said communication duct (10) is inclined relative to said tube (2), the orifice (10b) through which said communication duct (10) opens out into the lumen (9) of said tube being closer to the distal end face (3a) thereof than is the orifice (10a) whereby said communication duct (10) opens into said balloon. 
     
     
       7. The breathing assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, including internal deflection means (33, 34a) for at least one jet of breathing gas conveyed by a third longitudinal duct (31), wherein said breathing-assistance tube includes another through duct (35) connecting said balloon (5) with the portion of said lumen (9) of said tube lying between said internal deflection means (33, 34a) and the distal end face (3a) of said tube. 
     
     
       8. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 7, wherein said other through duct (35) connecting said balloon (5) to the portion of said lumen (9) of said tube that lies between said internal deflection means (33, 34a) and the distal end face (3a) of said tube (2) opens out into said cavity (6a), along with said communication duct (10) and said first longitudinal duct (17). 
     
     
       9. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 7, wherein said third longitudinal duct (31) is provided in the thickness of the wall of said tube (2). 
     
     
       10. The breathing-assistance tube (2) according to claim 1, wherein said second longitudinal duct (22) is provided in the thickness of the wall of said tube (2).